The simplest way to hang pictures on the wall is to hammer a nail into the wall. However, the process of hanging heavy pictures is more involved. Pictures that weigh over 20 lbs. (9.1 kg) are considered too heavy for hanging on a wall without proper reinforcement. To ensure that your picture doesn't come crashing down after you hang it, follow these instructions for how to hang a heavy picture.

Steps

If your picture weighs more than 50 lbs. (22.7 kg), hang the picture using a piece of plywood as reinforcement.

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2

Use anchors to hang a picture.

Pre-drill holes in the wall where you want to hang your picture using a drill bit the same diameter as the wall anchors.

Tap anchors into the pre-drilled holes using a hammer. They should be as close to flush with the wall as you can get them, creating a plastic sleeve to drill the screws into.

Insert screws into anchors and use a drill to screw them in. This expands the anchors inside the wall, creating a secure hold for hanging heavy pictures.

3

Hang a picture using molly bolts. Molly bolts are useful for hollow walls, as they have a component that flares out behind the wall to create stability.

Pre-drill a hole the diameter of the molly bolt.

Tap the molly bolt into the hole with a hammer.

Tighten the molly bolt with a drill to trigger the flare and secure the molly bolt.

4

Attach a plywood reinforcement board to the wall before you hang a picture that weighs more than 50 lbs. (22.7 kg).

Use a stud finder to find wall studs in the area you wish to hang your picture.

Use a level and a tape measure to mark a level line on your wall where you plan on hanging your heavy picture. Be sure your line spans 2 studs.

Cut a section of � inch (0.6 cm) thick, 4 inch (10 cm) wide plywood to a length that is 4 inches (10 cm) shorter than the width of the picture you are going to hang. You may use a table or a hand saw for this.

Hold the plywood piece against the wall and drive several nails through the board and into the wall to hold it in place.

Mark the stud locations on the plywood board and hammer 2 long nails through the plywood and into the wall studs to firmly secure the plywood to the wall. You now have a sturdy base on which to hang a picture.

Hammer nails or drill screws into the plywood where you need them in order to hang your picture.

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Tips

The anchor and molly bolt techniques may be used as is, if you plan on hanging a wire-backed picture directly on the screws, or for installing hanging brackets, in which case you would screw through the brackets and into the reinforcements.

Use these techniques to hang mirrors, towel hangers and other decorative elements.

Warnings

If there will be a lot of downward and outward pressure on a hanging picture (if the picture frame is especially thick or if the picture will be tilted out from the wall), avoid using anchors, as they could rip out of the wall.

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